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Agretti all'agro
Agretti all’agro: spring saltwort greens blanched and dressed with lemon and olive oil
Agretti, also called barba di frate or 'monk's beard', appear in Roman and Tuscan markets for a short season in March and April, tied in bunches that look like thick chives. Blanched for a minute and dressed all'agro, with lemon and good olive oil, they are a juicy, slightly salty spring side for an egg dish, grilled fish or beans. Suitable as part of a balanced diet, they are almost free of starch: about 80 kcal and 3 g carbohydrate per portion. The usual mistake is overcooking them into limp threads; they should keep a crisp, spinach-like snap. Chef's tip: agretti are naturally salty, so taste before adding any salt at all.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 14 oz agretti (saltwort)roots trimmed, washed well
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic (optional)halved
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 pinch salt (optional)
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Wash the 14 oz agretti (saltwort) in several changes of water to remove all the sand.
4 minStep 2: Bring a large pan of unsalted water to a rolling boil. Add the agretti and cook for 1–2 minutes, until bright green and tender but still with a slight snap.
3 minStep 3: Drain and spread out on a tray to cool quickly so they stay green.
2 minStep 4: Rub a serving bowl with the cut 1 clove garlic. Whisk 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 2 tbsp lemon juice and ¼ tsp black pepper in the bowl, then add the agretti and toss. Taste and add 1 pinch salt only if needed. Serve at room temperature.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 80 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 3 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does agretti all'agro take?
- About 15 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of lemon juice?
- Lime juice, same amount.
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